Astley's No.44 Dark Virginia Flake

This, IMO, has to be one of, if not the best, VA tobaccos I've smoked. The short flakes are colors of golds & browns. The tin aroma is delicious, I just wish I could put other words to it. I've smelled that smell before, I just can't seem to place it. The aroma almost makes your mouth water. Rubs out well, packs equally well, lights well, almost a one-light deal. Moisture level was spot-on, at least for me. Mildly tangy as well as spicey and citrusy, it is, as the description says, full of flavor and very easy on the tongue. That tin aroma peeks in during the smoke w/bits of light sweetness here and there. Slight woodsy notes, nice and rich. Tasty, very tasty. Cool and creamy w/a flavor that's consistent to the bottom of the bowl where you find a small amount of fluffy gray ash when you're finished. Never harsh and only minor gurgling. Used one cleaner about 1/2way down the bowl, that's all. I have a coupla favorite Castellos, a bent G65 Sea Rock and a straight 3k #25 Sea Rock I've been smoking this in and they will not see anything but this tobak from here on. This to me is VA tobak at its finest. All three Astley's I've tried (#109, #55, #44) are most enjoyable, and I'm looking forward to trying #2 as well, but for now I'm really liking #44, and dare I say, this could easily be my favorite so far. Others have spoken of their island favorite, that one tobak they would hafta have. As of right now, this would be mine. As w/other Astley's this is a wee bit pricey, but, not moreso than some other high-end tobaccos. IMHO it's well worth it, and I will be getting more soon. Delectable. Highest accolades. Most assuredly works for me!

It took me a long time to get a pair of No. 44 and No. 109 tins from Astley's, but after several months of chasing I was finally able to get my hands on them. After two years of storage, it was time to open one. I had high hopes for this one, but where I expected to find a straight, naturally flavored virginia I was surprised to find a fairly simple, slightly artificially sweetened tobacco. This tobacco must have changed over time because my experience with it does not correspond to many reviews I have read here. Bread-flavored, quite sweet, probably due to some sugar coating or similar, but it's applied so lightly that that sweetness seems almost natural. Generates little or no moisture. I suppose that one of the drawbacks that it might have for some pipe smokers to like it is that it maintains the same flavor throughout the smoke and that it is perhaps lacking in strength. I think if I hadn't expected anything else I would give it four stars, but inevitably there has been a slight disappointment here...

Tin note of mildly sweet, sourdough and hay. Tobacco is orangish brown and dark brown marbled flake. Moisture content is ok, Flake rubs out with a little effort. Some may want to dry it a bit. Burns slow with a few extra relights. The strength is medium and nic is mild to medium. No flavoring detected. Taste is medium and mostly consistent, with notes of mildly sweet, woody, spices, bread, leather, rich earth, smooth, floral, dry hay, savory, citrus bitters/zest, autumn leaves/vegetation, a stewed mildly tangy fruit background note, and a moderately peppery retro. Room note is pleasant to tolerable, and aftertaste is great.

For a change up, I will start this review by saying my 4 star rating depends on dedicating a suitable VA pipe, as this is necessary in order to get the best from Astley’s #44 Dark VA Flake. I’m not sure why it took me so long to figure this out, since A44 shares this trait with its lighter stable mate, #109 VA Flake, which I have also smoked, enjoyed, and reviewed here at TR. It took me quite a while to find some A44 (like, years…). When I finally got hold of some, I noted well-formed, almost sticky, dark flakes that exuded a damped aroma of earthy brown bread over dark fruit leather, with prunes, molasses, and a drop of anise. It seems to be sweetened with treacle. I smoked a few bowls, then set it aside for a month or so. After that, it was easy to spindle, loosely stuff, light and smoke down, but it was a little turgid, flat, still nothing special. I tried it in several VA pipes before I decided to smoke it in the same pipe for a while. Like I said, above, that did the trick. Once it owns a pipe it starts out great and gets better and better, to the end of a bowl. The best of rested A44 is like the tin note, only more fragrant, woody brown bread, dark fruit leather, prunes, apricots, and citrus. Like A109, A44 is notably astringent, which I quite enjoy. It’s simple, but very fragrant and very classy, IMO. Strength is medium, with decent nicotine. Tastes are past medium the way I smoke it. There’s plenty of smoke to start with, and the smoke gets downright profuse toward and until the end. Room note is better than tolerable, even as the smoker enjoys delicate, aromatic side streams. Like A109, A44’s aftertaste is a delicious, sweeter, long, drawn out best of the smoke.

Apparently, unlike A109, A44 does not diminish as it rests in a jar, after opening; quite the contrary. Again, IMO, its best is worth 4 stars. Good luck finding some to smoke!

Smoking now.

Jar note is deep tangy fermented fruit, lemon, dark wet hay. It’s very nice. I can tell this one is going to be a banger. Required some dry time. Rubbed out and packed fine. Lights really easily too.

The taste is very tart, citrus, lemon, vinegar. Maybe the tartest Virginia I’ve smoked. Malty fermented bread, hay, above average sweetness. No grassy freshness, as to be expected from a dark Virginia. This is a real winner in my books. I was pleased that at the half way point of my Dunhill group 5 the taste was consistent. Past that point it looses a little tartness and takes on more of the hay, wood, earth, and vegetative qualities but it’s still very pleasing with some tartness still being detectable. The retrohale is more bread, malt, and sweetness. No nose tingle either. Very easy on my tongue and mouth for a Virginia. Clean after taste, very little tingle or harshness. I smoked this one a bit fast as it was so good but it performed well. Does benefit from dry time. The nicotine is always noticeable, it’s strong.

Very happy I have multiple ounces of this jarred up. If you like dark sweet citrus tangy flakes get some of this. This may be my favorite pipe tobacco.

3rdguy

Just finished a full tin with 5 years of age on it. Dark square flakes. Nice rich, earthy flavor with some nic to round it out. Will never bite and I smoke a bit too fast at times. Burns down to a white ash every time. Probably my favorite Dark Virginia out there. Smooth retrohale. Consistent throughout the smoke in flavor. Normally sells out quickly so you may want to grab several tins if you see it, you surely would have no trouble trading or selling the others if you end up not caring for it.

Highly recommended.

It was the relative scarcity of this tobacco along with the favorable reviews that sparked my interest in this tobacco. I finally managed to secure a couple of tins last year so I was naturally expecting something special. Not sure if the previous reviews were for the current K&K version of this tobacco, but I must say I was underwhelmed to say the least.

Upon lighting up, I found the base virginias to be quite bready/yeasty (which I like), however there was no real sweetness to be found and a distinctly bitter aftertaste persisted throughout the bowl, which was off-putting. I could not identify any flavorings or toppings, other than this awful bitterness. After several months in a jar, the situation has not improved. Strength and taste are about medium with nicotine in the mild-medium range.

Otherwise, I cannot fault the quality of the base tobaccos or the presentation. It's just the bitterness that put me off this particular tobacco, so I will not be buying any more.

This is a blind review I did, which turned out to be Astley's No. 44. I figured I'd post my notes, but please remember I had no idea what blend I was smoking.

Astleys No. 44 Presentation- Flakes of medium and light colored tobacco. Pouch note- A Virginia Flake. (Boring, I know, but I can't put it any other way).

The good stuff- I went ahead and rubbed this out partially. The moisture was perfect for an easy light and tamp. It only took that one light to get off to the races.

Initial light- upon lighting, there is a deep bread flavor. It's certainly a Virginia blend, and I'm not sure there's any Perique in here. In fact, after a few minutes I taste honey. Not honey from the bottle, but the same flavor your honey makes in a hot cup of tea,

First half- I've been chugging along and my mind is made up, it's a Virginia blend. At this point, it's tamed, yet nuanced. Then, the main flavor I get is honey graham crackers. I had to relight once, but I'm sipping slow. Also, is it fair to call a blend milky? As in, milk and honey.

Second Half- same nuances are found here that were there before. Maybe a little lemon/citrus flavor. I'm certain now that there isn't any Perique here. I am also certain this is a blend that will not make someone's head spin with nicotine. Now, the bread (buttered rolls) flavor shines. Man, this blend is smoooooooooth. No bite at my cadence. No gurgles. No harsh notes. This blend sort of reminds me of Luxury Twist Flake, but I know it's not. In fact, if I had my better judgement about me (and it's been years since I've had a tin) I'd say this is Full Virginia Flake. Don't hold me to it.

In conclusion- This is an excellent Virginia Flake that deserves a spot in my cellar, if not everyone else's. There is that "Timothy grass" note, but past that, it's a sweet, smooth blend that stays fairly consistent from start to finish allowing the nuances to dance in and out of thought at random. I like it, and if I were a Virginia freak, this would be at the top of my list (as long as the price agreed with my wallet).

Astley #44 is another fine Va. flake that I can turn to for my daily rotation . The square flakes , tightly packed , in the round can make a nice display . The tin note invites one to smoke . I find the tobacco a little dry in it's delivery and that can make for a hotter smoke which is the only real fault with #44 . This is a good tobacco to cellar . I found an old can around and opened it and the years did a nice job making it more mellow . The taste never achieves the subtle highs one gets from a really first rate Va flake but this is more than a decent smoke . Among the Astley blends I prefer the 109 which is one of the great Va blends . #44 is a good alternative when you feel like something a little different.

---

4/17 It seems time to revisit #44 . Having not smoked it for a while I now realize what a fine tobacco it really is . Astley called #44 their dark Virginia for good reason . This blend really stands up to an outdoor smoke on a breezy day . The tin note is even finer than first thought , sort of earthy > Kinf of like Mc Clelland's #22 without the drama . Now delivered with an excellent moisture content , this easy to pack and smoke blend will have a greater presence in my daily rotation .